Tell the USDA to Stop Puppy Mill Imports

Sick and dying puppies are being imported from other countries almost every day from foreign puppy mills for re-sale in U.S. pet stores and online. Many of these countries have no laws whatsoever to protect dogs, and the puppies who are imported are often sick, or even die shortly after arrival. They can also bring new diseases into the U.S.

In 2008, a law was passed to protect puppies under six months of age from being imported into the U.S. for resale as part of the Farm Bill. The measure was created due to concerns about sick and dying puppies imported from overseas puppy mills. Almost six years later, this law has yet to be enforced. The USDA issued a proposed rule in 2011 to implement the law but has never issued the final rule.

Please send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and urge him to finalize the Puppy Import Rule.

Please help protect underage puppies who are being imported from foreign puppy mills to be sold in the U.S. for a quick profit. Six years after a measure to protect these puppies became law as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, the USDA still has not finalized regulations designed to enforce the puppy imports law, so the law is not being enforced. The law would NOT prevent people from importing their own pets or dogs they have adopted.

The U.S. is making huge strides in addressing the domestic puppy mill problem by shutting down illegal puppy mills and better regulating large-scale commercial breeders. But an enforcement loophole still exists for re-sellers who import very young puppies from other countries. Many of these countries have no laws whatsoever to protect dogs, and the puppies who are imported are often sick or even die shortly after arrival. They can also bring new diseases into the country.

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Please finalize the USDA puppy import rule ASAP to protect these puppies and American consumers.